Newark man pleads guilty in 1995 killing

On the eve of his murder trial, a Newark man today admitted fatally shooting a father of two during a brawl outside an after-hours club more than a decade ago.

Ramon Garcia, 38, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge in the slaying of Lance Whitfield, 33, on Oct. 14, 1995.

Lawyers were scheduled to deliver opening statements in Garcia's murder trial in Superior Court in Newark on Tuesday morning. A jury had been selected earlier this month.

But Garcia decided to forgo a trial and instead pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and a weapons offense. The plea will carry a recommendation from the Essex County Prosecutors Office that he serve seven years.